Overcoming Your Book Marketing Fears (by Enneagram type) with Amy Wicks
Do any of these book marketing thoughts sound familiar?
My message doesn’t matter.
It has to be perfect.
I’m so not worthy.
It’s going to fail.
I’ll never do it as good as she does it.
It’s all out of my control anyway.
Marketing doesn’t come easy for any of us.
That’s why I invited my friend and favorite go-to Enneagram coach, Amy Wicks, to share about the Enneagram and how each of the nine types face book marketing challenges.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
What is the Enneagram?
The Enneagram is a self-awareness tool that has nine types that we each identify and lead with. The nine-point diagram describing patterns about how people interpret the world, how people respond to stress, how we each uniquely grow, and how we respond to situations differently.
🎧 LISTEN AND LEARN 📝
Apple / YouTube / Spotify / You choose
Your Enneagram Type and Book Marketing Challenges
Let's identify how each Enneagram type might attempt and conquer their book marketing struggles. We can identify our fears, but the transformation happens when we choose not to give in to them.
- The Reformer
- The Helper
- The Achiever
- The Individualist
- The Investigator
- The Loyalist
- The Enthusiast
- The Challenger
- The Peacemaker (that's me 🙋🏻♀️)
Type 1: The Reformer
The one's core fear is being wrong, being corruptible, making mistakes, or being unworthy. Perfectionism is going to trip up the ones.
Ask where you need to loosen up and lower your standards of perfection. Not lower your standards of excellence, but what is unrealistic? Even if it looks a little different, you can have a successful and good outcome with their help instead of taking on all the responsibility and shoulder it unnecessary.
Type 2: The Helper
The two's core fear is being unwanted or rejected. You shy away from self-promotion.
Priorities for twos are really challenging because they're so busy helping everybody else. But your message is worthy of stewarding and if the Lord has given you one and you've written that book, it's time for you to stop promoting everybody else's for a season and promote yours.
Type 3: The Achiever
The three's core fear is being perceived as a failure. You fear being called out or thought of as incompetent or worthless.
So three's will have a plan for success for their book launch. But be aware of possible burnout and the incorrect metrics. Threes don't need to be told to work harder. Ask the Lord what his design and his plan and his idea of success is for your book launch.
Type 4: The Individualist
The four's core fear is fear being unnoticed, mundane, insignificant, and cut off emotionally.
Invite the Lord to speak to how he created you to be special and unique with your message and with your launch process, He is the giver of your creativity.
Type 5: The Investigator
The five's core fear is being obligated to somebody, being invaded upon or depleted of energy.
Ask who are you actually obligated to, to get this book out? How has God equipped you to share your message and where do you draw your strength from?
Type 6: The Loyalist
The six's core fear is being blamed, abandoned. You feel anxious and fear not having support.
Journal out worst-case scenarios and gather a team of friends to support you and help troubleshoot when problems come up.
Type 7: The Enthusiast
The seven's core fear is being trapped in uncomfortable or painful emotions, and missing out. The FOMO is real. Instead of following through with the launch plan, you may choose to start something new as that's way more fun than being tired or bored with your current project.
Follow through with your plan, and have a team of friends to celebrate with you no matter the outcome.
Type 8: The Challenger
The eight's core fear is being controlled and being at the mercy of others. You may be suspicious about the system being rigged for bestsellers.
Ask what can I actually control in this situation and what do I need to let go of?
Type 9: The Peacemaker (that's me 🙋🏻♀️)
The nine’s core fear is being in conflict and losing connection with others, or feeling overlooked.
Instead of dwelling on that possibility, ask how or who can get me out of my comfort zone. What do I want from this book launch? When am I going to give time to this book launch and stick to it. How am I going to carve that time out?
Can we be more than one type?
Now, if you're like me, you might see a little of yourself in all the types.
We actually lead with one type, but being made in the image of God who possesses all of these character traits and beyond, we often resonate with more than one type.
Amy's assessment and book can help you sort it out!
📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Should Christians Use the Enneagram? by Amy Wicks
Amy's website
Amy's Instagram
Amy's Enneagram One-Sheet
Amy's Simply Wholehearted Podcast
Self to Lose, Self to Find: Using the Enneagram to Uncover Your True, God-Gifted Self by Marilyn Vancil
